Spray gun



June 5, 1962 T. SCHNEIDER ETQAL SPRAY GUN Filed Dec. 7, 1959 INVENTORS TED SCHNEIDER By RICHARD C.L|TTLEJOHN ATTORNEYS I Patented June 5, 1952 3,037,708 SPRAY GUN Ted Schneider, 3225 Gladiola Drive, and Richard C. Littlejohn, 2424 Maizeland Road, both of Qolorado Springs, Colo.

Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,776 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-418) This invention relates to mixing and spraying devices and more particularly to a device for mixing a small volume stream of concentrate with a relatively large volume stream of diluent.

Numerous mixing and spraying devices have been proposed and used heretofore for mixing a fluid concentrate with a fluid diluent. For example, such devices are commonly used to introduce a concentrated insecticide or fertilizer composition into a stream of water for spraying gardens, shrubs and lawns. These assemblies have made use of the well-known aspirating effect, which results when a stream of fluid moving at a relatively high velocity passes across a small opening to Withdraw concentrate from a small container into a stream of water from a garden hose. In these prior art mixers, the diluent stream is substantially circular in cross-sectional configuration as it passes over the aspirating opening from the concentrate with a resultant surface mixing of concentrate on the diluent stream.

We have invented an improved mixing device which utilizes the above referred to aspiration effect to greater advantage for achieving a more efficient and uniform mixing. Our device, also, has an improved combination of elements whereby an improved spray pattern is ob tained. In the present device, the diluent stream is formed into an essentially flat, film-like stream of substantial width as it passes over the aspirating opening thus assuring an intimate mixing of concentrate in the diluent. Also, the aspirated concentrate is issued into the diluent stream as a spray, increasing the intimacy of mixing.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved fluid mixing device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved mixing device by which more intimate mixing of concentrate and diluent is obtainable.

It is still another object of the invention to provide novel combination of parts by which an improved spray pattern may be achieved.

It is a further specific object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable insecticide mixer and sprayer.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the description hereafter with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plane view, in partial section, of a mixer according to our invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mixer of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a detailed side view, in partial section, of a portion of the mixer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view, in partial section, of a novel valive arrangement usable with the device of FIG. 1; an

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the mixer of FIG. 1, in partial section, showing fluid flow through the mixing area.

One manner of practicing our invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein the mixing device is shown suitably connected to a concentrate container 18, which may be a jar, can or the like, by means such as a support 16 carried on a threaded container cover 1. The device includes a diluent inlet 2, adapted to be connected to a suitable source of supply such as a garden hose (not shown) in communication with a passage 3.

Movement of diluent through the passageway 3 from inlet 2 induces a reduced pressure in a passage 4 so as to aspirate concentrate through tube 17 which extends into container 18. The liquid flowing from passage 3 is deflected to the downward extension 11 of the concentrate passage 3 (as will be described in detail hereafter). Intimately mixed concentrate and diluent issue from the mixing area through spray nozzle 5 which has a lip 10 to' aid in the obtention of an improved spray pattern.

Integral with the mixing system is a suitably adjustable valve 12 which is controlled by moving the lever 13 into the depressions 14 as shown more clearly in FIG. 2. The enlarged illustration of FIG. 4 details the manner in which the movement of the lever 13 rotates the element 20 to thus vary the area of the opening 21 between tube 17 and passage 4, and thus the amount of concentrate added to the diluent.

The diluent liquid flowing from passage 3 is deflected downwardly by lip 39 onto surface 31. This stream of liquid impinges on the mixing surface 31 and flattens into a diverging film. The film flows along the surface 31 toward the outlet 5, as does the liquid that splashes up against the lower surface of extension 11. The film flowing along mixing surface 31 passes over opening 34 which has a lip 32 extending upwardly into the film.

The functions of opening 34 and stream deflectors 30, 32, and 33 of FIG. 2 are more clearly understood from a study of the sectional view of FIG. 3. As the diluent flows under pressure and at a relatively high velocity over the extending lip 32 and across the opening 34 it reduces the pressure in passage 4 and aspirates liquid from the concentrate container. The remainder of the diluent liquid flows along the surface 31 toward the openings.

It should be understood that the entire mixing surface 31 and space 40 are substantially covered with diluent at operable quantities of fluid, and the above description of diluent flow over lip 32 is directed to a theoretical current or stream within the moving diluent mass which actually passes over the opening 34. Thus, the entire mass changes from the circular configuration of passage 3 and progressively flattens and diverges through mixing zone 40, subsequently emerging through nozzle 5 as a spray. Thus, as one theoretical stream of the diluent is deflected by lip 32, the remainder of the diluent stream is passing past the side periphery of the opening 34 as generally indicated by the arrows 41 in FIG. 2.

As pointed out, the movement of the diluent past the opening 34 causes a reduced pressure in the concentrate passages such that atmospheric pressure exerted on the concentrate through opening 15 (FIG. 4) forces concentrate through tube 17 along passage 4 closely juxtaposed parallel to passage 3. This flow of concentrate is deflected against lip 33 and through opening 34 into the induced turbulence of the diluent as a spray.

Thus, our novel arrangement of deflecting lips which results in a spray of concentrate being directed into an area of induced turbulence in the diluent stream, assures a very intimate mixing of the two. The arrows shown in FIG. 5 are intended to more clearly illustrate the flows of concentrate and diluent which are induced by our novel deflecting lips and by which our device accomplishes its new and improved results.

Having thus described one manner of practicing the concepts of our invention, we wish it understood that we do not intend nor desire our invention to be limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The method of mixing and forming a spray of at least two fluid streams comprising, impinging a first fluid stream moving at a relatively high velocity onto a mixing surface in a confined rnixiug zone, progressively diverging the first stream over the mixing surface to a film like stream of substantial width, deflecting a portion of the diverging film like stream above and over an opennig from which a second fluid stream is aspirated as a fanlike spray into the first stream thereby intimately mixing with the first stream, and then passing the mixed streams from the mixing zone through a nozzle as a spray.

2. The method of mixing and forming a spray of diluent and concentrate streams comprising, impinging the diluent stream moving at a relatively high velocity onto a mixing surface in a confined mixing zone, progressively flattening and diverging the diluent stream over the mixing surface to a film like stream of substantial width, passing a portion of the film like diverging diluent stream above and over an opening from which the concentrate stream is aspirated as a fan-like spray into the first stream thereby intimately mixing with the diluent stream, and then passing the mixed streams from the mixing zone as a spray.

3. Apparatus for mixing fluids comprising at least two fluid stream confining passages which communicate with a confined mixing zone inclusive of a spray opening, said zone also inclusive of a planar wall portion arranged to flatten and thereafter spray a fluid stream passing therethrough, a first of said passages opening into the mixing zone at a position spaced from the position of the spray opening, means arranged to downwardly deflect a fluid stream issuing from said first passage to an impinging relationship with a portion of said wall, and a second of the passages opening into the mixing zone downstream and in the impinged stream including means for upwardly directing the impinged stream over its opening, and means in the second passage adapted to deflect a fanlike spray of fluid through its opening into the fluid in the mixing area.

4. Apparatus for mixing fluids comprising at least two fluid stream confining passages which are connected to a confined mixing zone having a spray opening, said zone also inclusive of a mixing surface arranged to flatten and thereafter spray a fluid stream passing thereover, a first of said passages opening into the mixing zone at a position spaced from the position of the spray opening, means arranged to downwardly deflect a fluid stream issuing from said first passage to an impinging relationship with a portion of said surface, and the second of the passages opening into the mixing zone doumstream from and in the impinged stream and including means for upwardly directing the impinged stream over its opening, additional means in the second passage adapted to deflect a fan-like spray of fluid through its opening into the fluid on the mixing surface, and inclusive of valve means for varying the flow of the second stream.

5. In a spray device having a member for attachment to a diluent source and a concentrate source, the improvement comprising two substantially closely juxtaposed fluid confining passages, a confined mixing area inclusive of a mixing surface adapted to flatten and diverge a stream passing therethrough, the first of said passages communicating with said diluent source and opening onto said surface and inclusive of means arranged to downwardly deflect diluent into an impinging relation with said mixing surface, and the second passage communicating with said concentrate source and opening through the mixing surface downstream of the impinging point with means adjacent said opening arranged to upwardly deflect a portion of the impinged diluent over the opening of said second passage, and additional deflecting means adapted to deflect a fan-like spray of concentrate from the opening of said second passage through the mixing surface, and a diverging nozzle from said mixing surface from which mixed concentrate and diluent issue as a spray.

6. In a spray device having a member for attachment to a diluent source and a concentrate source, the improvement comprising two substantially closely juxtaposed fluid confining passages, a confined mixing zone inclusive of a mixing surface adapted to flatten and diverge a stream passing therethrough to a film like stream of substantial width over said mixing surface, the first of said passages being interconnected to said diluent source and opening onto said surface and inclusive of means arranged to downwardly deflect diluent into an impinging relation with said mixing surface, and the second passage being interconnected to said concentrate source and opening through the mixing surface downstream of the impinging diluent with means adjacent said opening and arranged to upwardly deflect a portion of the impinged diluent over the opening of said passage, and additional deflecting means adapted to deflect a fan-like spray of concentrate through the opening of said second passage into the mixing area, a diverging nozzle opening from said mixing zone through which mixed concentrate and diluent issue as a spray, and said second passage inclusive of valve means adapted to vary the flow of concentrate through said second passage.

7. Apparatus for mixing-fluids and forming a spray thereof comprising at least two substantially closely juxtaposed passages communicating with a confined mixing zone defined by walls and inclusive of a mixing surface, a first of said passages having means for deflecting the fluid stream passing therethrough to direct the stream into an impinging relation with said mixing surface, and a second of said passages opening into said mixing zone through said mixing surface forward of the impinging fluid stream, means adjacent the opening of said second passage for deflecting a portion of the impinged fluid over the opening and additional means adjacent the opening extending into the second passage adapted to deflect a fan-like spray of the fluid passing therethrough into the impinged fluid in an intimate mixing relationship therewith, said mixing zone adapted to flatten and diverge the fluid passing therethrough to a film like stream of substantial width, and a nozzle spaced from the opening of the second passage adapted to spray the mixed fluids.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the nozzle has means adjacent a portion of its periphery adapted to deflect the spray of mixed fluids therefrom.

9. Apparatus for mixing a diluent and a concentrate and forming a spray thereof comprising at least two substantially parallel juxtaposed passages interconnected to a diluent and a concentrate source and communicating with an enclosed mixing zone defined by walls and inclusive of a mixing surface, a first of said passages having means for deflecting a diluent stream passing therethrough to direct it onto said mixing surface, and another of said passages opening into said zone through said mixing surface forward of the point of diluent deflection, means adjacent the said opening for deflecting a portion of diluent stream over the said opening and additional means adjacent said opening extending into said other passage adapted to deflect a fan-like spray of concentrate passing therethrough into the deflected portion of the diluent stream for intimate mixing relationship with the diluent stream, and said mixing zone adapted to flatten and progressively diverge the stream passing therethrough prior to spraying through a nozzle opening from the mixing zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,101 Inglis Apr. 26, 1910 1,458,975 Clauson June 19, 1923 1,715,140 Martin May 28, 1929 2,260,603 Budwig Oct. 28, 1941 2,544,539 Manders Mar. 6, 1951 2,594,476 Miller Apr. 29, 1952 

